Flagbearer of the National Democratic Congress, John Dramani Mahama, has slammed President Akufo-Addo’s recent unveiling of a statue depicting himself at the entrance of the Effia Nkwanta Regional Hospital in Sekondi-Takoradi.
This unveiling, part of Akufo-Addo’s one-day “thank you” tour of the Western Region on November 6, has spurred a debate, with Mahama questioning its appropriateness.
Mahama has labelled the statue as an act of “self-praise,” casting doubt on whether such a monument truly reflects the region’s developmental needs. He suggests the statue is more about self-commendation than a genuine acknowledgement of contributions to regional growth.
In response, Western Regional Minister Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah defended the statue, stating it was intended to honour Akufo-Addo’s impact on the region.
The minister cited significant projects under Akufo-Addo’s administration, such as the renovation of the Effia-Nkwanta Hospital, construction of the Sinohydro interchange, and redevelopment of the Takoradi Market Circle, as achievements justifying this recognition.
But speaking at a campaign event in the Central Region on Friday, November 8, Mahama noted that “Trial and error normally end in failure, Akufo-Addo said we should try him, we tried him and he failed. As if he cares. He went to Takoradi to commission a statue of him, have you heard this before? As a leader, you need people to say good things about your work and not the other way around.
“He convinced all universities to confer on him a doctorate degree when he was already in power. How? I don’t know where he’s taking those doctorates. You have to end your tenure for the universities to rather confer the awards on you depending on your accomplishments.”
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